Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 691 - 295: The Seventeen-Year Cicada Spreads Its Wings

```

The babbling stream flowed down from the mountain ravine, striking the cobblestone pool below with exceptional clarity and coolness.

Seated by the pool's edge, Tilan dipped her bare feet into the water, savoring the sensation of the current passing through her toes. The hem of her dress atop her knees had gotten a bit wet, so she casually tied it up on one side. Supporting herself with her hands on a large rock by the water, she tilted her head back to watch the clouds drifting across the sky.

This was the mountainous region of the Northern First District, the only area in the Jade Skirt Northern Hemisphere that still had a somewhat decent environment.

Several white birds stretched their wings up high, descending quietly and softly before contentedly landing in the pool. They fluttered their wings and occasionally dove into the water, washing themselves in its clear stream. On closer inspection, one could see a tuft of pale yellow crest on their heads, shaped like a tilde, setting these birds apart as rather extraordinary.

Radiant Feather Sequence 4: Light Feather Bird (Perfect Radiant Gold Level), the most classic advancement template for the Light Cotton Bird, with the Radiant Feather Sequence named after it.

Lying back against the stone, the girl closed her eyes, quietly listening to the breeze, before slowly opening her emerald-like eyes. She lifted her hand slightly, the gentle winds swirling around her, causing the slanted tree leaves above to rustle, dappled sunlight breaking through the branches.

Rising to her feet, Tilan pulled her feet from the water and stepped on the stone, leaving behind wet footprints before gracefully leaping up to perch atop the canopy of the tree. Then, sitting on a branch, she let the wind dry her dress hem and toes.

Now in April, the climate of the Northern First District was mild and pleasant, and the sunshine was not too harsh, creating an atmosphere that felt relaxing and indulgent.

Her delicate fingers spread open in the wind, then with a gentle twirl, a green bamboo flute appeared in her palm, complete with a tassel hanging from its end, quite lovely to behold.

Positioning the flute before her, the girl began to play, reacquainting herself with this slightly unfamiliar skill.

Gradually, the sound of the flute became more melodious and gentle, the initial awkwardness completely dissipating, turning into something touching and serene.

Hearing the girl's flute music, the frolicking Light Feather Birds in the water flapped their wings, flying to the branches near the girl to listen to the melody carried by the wind.

Unlike the grand themes of the past, this tune revealed a simplicity that swayed with the wind.

Have you heard the tale of the 'Seventeen-Year Cicada,' which speaks of a life spent underground enduring seventeen years of darkness, only to emerge and climb to the treetops, basking in the summer breeze while singing joyously, and then spending the last moments of its life?

Insects merely live according to their nature, but humans see reflections of themselves in these creatures.

If we speak of Hexia's past, her timid and insecure nature due to her childhood experiences often led her to suppress her temperament, too afraid to speak out loud or share her opinions. But over these past three years, her previously coiled heart has slowly unfurled, like a cicada emerging from its tiny shell, then standing on the treetops, bathing in the gentle breeze, and gradually spreading its wings.

Sometimes the girl wondered, if she hadn't experienced all those things in her childhood, would she, like Temisia, have displayed a remarkable Talent from a young age, growing up in the spotlight? What kind of personality would she have developed?

Without a doubt, no one is born timid or bold; a person's character is largely shaped by their childhood experiences, the environment, and experiences that form one's thinking habits and methods. Every person you meet is a crystallization of their past.

After the piece ended, the girl put down the flute, her eyelashes parting slightly to gaze at the hazy landscape before her. She didn't focus on anything in particular and merely felt the world around her in peace, listening to the distant birdsong, the mountain stream rushing, and the slight rustling of the leaves nearby.

Indeed, she was different from her sister.

Listening intently to the voice within, the girl softly reflected that she didn't possess Temisia's intense desires, the kind that would stop at nothing to achieve a goal. If not for the kindness and care received over the past three years, she might have chosen a peaceful and secluded planet to live out a leisurely life, far from the crowds.

She didn't have many goals or desires that needed to be fulfilled, but she also wasn't the type to irresponsibly abandon everything.

Freedom, too, needs certain things to sustain it; those who give everything up also lose what is called freedom.

She enjoyed such tranquil afternoons, basking in the creek and lazily watching the clouds drift by. However, she was no longer a child and knew that such leisure and freedom needed to be maintained and protected, not something to be acquired through constant evasion or retreat from the world.

Although she lacked her sister's strong drive to attain goals, she harbored a wish to protect the world before her, to maintain it in the peaceful and tranquil state she held dear in her heart.

One possessed a destructive vigor for progress, and the other, a healing desire to mend wounds and protect. With concepts as distinct and opposing as theirs, they were markedly different and yet, they complemented each other.

Her body lightly leaped up, the wind pulling at her skirt. Then, gently descending, her tiptoes touched down on the grass.

"It's time to get down to business," said the girl, shielding her eyes from the sunlight and looking up.

——————————

In early April, the military police command center of North Fourth District received an anonymous email, which included footage of a battle scene. The four Turtledove mechs immediately caught the center's attention, as they were the same ones that had gone missing last year.

```

In order to wash away the shame and settle hidden dangers, the command center immediately used the scenes from the video recordings to locate and verify the position, and then sent out a task force to sweep and chase.

Quickly, by the next day's noon, a squad had arrived at the scene of the incident, but it was already empty, leaving behind nothing but ruins of an underground base.

Several days later, successive investigation teams arrived to survey and search the area, and also expanded their search and investigation to other surrounding territories.

"Report to the commander, this is the investigative report,"

A week later, a detailed investigative report was placed on the desk at the Northern Fourth District's military police command center.

The report temporarily referred to the rebellious organization that had stolen four mechs as 'X', and it roughly analyzed the composition and origins of its members.

[The exact time of the X organization's establishment is unclear, but most members hail from the impoverished regions of the north, many core combat personnel are federal retired soldiers, and based on the detailed habits displayed during combat, it can be inferred that the mech pilots are most likely former military personnel, including high-rank retired military officers among their commanders.

The organization is active in the Northern Third, Fourth, and Fifth Districts, and its peripheral organizations might be the local gangs from these areas. They manage internal and external operations with strict separation, with regional gangs only aware of partial intelligence about them, not understanding their internal structure and specific operational modes.

Since its formation, the organization has gradually taken control of many regional gang leaders, and some antagonistic gangs in certain areas don't even realize that the organization above them is the same one.

Their objectives, initially, were merely to amass wealth and maintain local stability. In recent years, the frequency of recruiting members has begun to climb, and last year, they launched a surprise attack on the calcite minefield task force in the Northern Fourth District, capturing mechs; their most recent prominent act was opposing the Saint Yingo faction's corporate acquisition of northern land resources.

It is yet to be determined whether the organization operates independently or is secretly supported by other powers, and this requires further observation.]

The report included many photos, tables, and verbal records from local residents during the investigation.

After listening to the report, the newly appointed Chief Commander gestured for the staff officer to set aside the record board for now.

"Do they have a grudge against Saint Yingo, or have they received benefits from the Edith faction's enterprises?"

"So far, there is no evidence of their involvement with Edith-related corporations, but there is indeed previous talk heard in some northern bars about a grudge against Saint Yingo."

"Elaborate."

"Essentially, the tragedy in various northern districts is said to be caused by Saint Yingo-related corporations, calling those people greedy and cold-blooded scum."

"Oh, it seems you've somewhat sanitized their talk. I reckon the bar patrons would curse much more obscenely and directly," the seasoned Chief Commander knew how the common drunkards on the street would bad-mouth and curse others.

"There were definitely some of that," the young staff officer acknowledged with admiration.

"Alright, let's not discuss how these guys curse. Is this kind of rhetoric widespread in the north?"

"Not widely, it was only popular in some areas for a certain period and then quickly disappeared."

Visit freewёbnoνel.com for the best novel reading experience.

"Quite smart, this organization's leader," said the Chief Commander lighting a cigarette and taking a slow puff.

"If it were me, I wouldn't act so rashly either; such statements, once popular, would inevitably draw the attention of Saint Yingo, who would find them with just a little investigation, and besides stirring up emotions, they couldn't change anything."

"The mainstream media in the Star Domain is in the grips of corporate enterprises; with the past dominance of Saint Yingo, just a call was needed to suppress all related news completely."

"That implies they've realized that with Saint Yingo and Edith now locked in their struggles, they're too distracted to care, which emboldens them to stir up trouble," analyzed the staff officer at his side.

"That's likely the case, but there's no need for us to jump to such conclusive judgments. Business as usual, keep chasing the organization's trail, until we find those four lost mechs," the Chief Commander snuffed out his cigarette.

"Yes, Commander."

The staff officer then left the office and continued to arrange personnel to pursue and analyze the whereabouts of the organization's members.

————————